2026-07-24 理化学研究所,京都大学,東京大学,関西医科大学
医療応用に向け、より高性能のiPS心筋を実現する加圧トレーニング
＜関連情報＞
- https://www.riken.jp/press/2026/20260724_1/index.html
- https://www.cell.com/stem-cell-reports/fulltext/S2213-6711(26)00230-4
高圧かつ断続的な静水圧は、ヒト多能性幹細胞由来の人工心臓組織の成熟を促進する High and intermittent hydrostatic pressure promotes maturation of engineered cardiac tissues derived from human pluripotent stem cells
Wusiman Maihemuti ∙ Kozue Murata ∙ Takahiro Jimba ∙ … ∙ Seitaro Nomura ∙ Wataru Kimura ∙ Hidetoshi Masumoto
Stem Cell Reports Published:July 23, 2026
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.stemcr.2026.103019
Highlights
- Hydrostatic pressure promotes structural, functional, and metabolic maturation of hPSC-ECTs
- Endothelial cells are critical for maturation and vascular network formation
- Trained ECTs improve cardiac function and myocardial repair after infarction
Summary
The immaturity of human pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hPSC-CMs) and engineered cardiac tissues (ECTs) limits their use in regenerative therapies. Ventricular loading pressure plays a vital role in cardiac repair, prompting the hypothesis that hydrostatic pressure could enhance ECT maturation. ECTs were created by co-culturing hPSC-derived cardiovascular cells with extracellular matrix proteins and subjecting them to intermittent hydrostatic pressure (1 h/day at 50 kPa for 3 days after 2 weeks of pre-culture). This protocol improved cardiomyocyte alignment, mitochondrial content, and metabolic and functional maturation, evidenced by enhanced contractility, calcium flux, and single-cell RNA sequencing. Endothelial cells were critical for these effects, as their absence prevented maturation. Hydrostatic pressure combined with dynamic culture also promoted vascular network formation. Transplanted trained ECTs significantly improved ejection fraction in a rat myocardial infarction model. These findings demonstrate the potential of hydrostatic pressure training to advance ECT maturation and therapeutic application.
